Resist the urge to dig wet soil, try the ‘baseball test’

Make sure the soil is ready before you start digging in the garden. With abundant rainfall in much of Missouri, garden soil may need time to dry out, said David Trinklein, horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension.
Soil that’s turned over when wet will form clods that will be very difficult to break apart later. This is because wet soil is more easily compacted than dry soil. He recommends the “baseball test” before you start digging.
“Take up a sample of soil and form it into a ball about the size of baseball. Put the ball in the palm of one hand. Sharply strike it with the heel of the other hand. If you see the imprint of your hand in the ball, the soil is too wet to work. If the ball crumbles when you hit it, go for it. It’s not going to get any better.”
Another practice that can destroy soil structure is excessive mechanical tillage. Yes, you must prepare a good seed bed, and rotary tillers are great for that, but don’t beat the soil to the point of destroying soil structure that you worked long and hard to help create.
Once the bed is established, don’t disturb the soil surface. Instead, use mulch for weed control, water conservation and adding organic matter to the soil.
Be careful with compost produced from animal manure. Farmers may use herbicides to control weeds in pastures and hayfields. Plant green bean seeds in a container filled with the compost. If they develop malformed foliage, the compost likely is contaminated.